South African Grammy-winning sensation Tyla is rewriting the rules of success in the U.S. music industry, making history on the Billboard US Afrobeats chart—despite facing backlash from some corners of the American Black community.
The 23-year-old singer, known globally for her smash hit Water, has emerged as a dominant force on the charts in 2025. While her recent EP We Wanna Party faced criticism for its modest first-week sales—reportedly only 3.7K copies—Tyla continues to solidify her place in the global music scene by consistently occupying top spots on Billboard.
Music fans and industry watchers were quick to note that, regardless of the online noise and supposed boycotts, Tyla remains an unstoppable presence. In fact, she has become the only artist to have three songs simultaneously in the Top 5 of the Billboard US Afrobeats chart every week of 2025 so far. Her tracks Dynamite, Water, and Push 2 Start continue to dominate, showcasing her widespread appeal and the staying power of her unique sound—a blend of Amapiano, pop, and Afrobeats.
The social media backlash, sparked by debates around identity and genre ownership, seemed to reach a peak following the underwhelming performance of her EP. However, industry insiders argue that first-week sales don’t define an artist’s trajectory—especially in the streaming era, where longevity and chart consistency speak volumes.
Despite the criticism, Tyla’s achievements mark a milestone not only for herself but also for African artists breaking into the U.S. mainstream. Her Billboard dominance signals a shift in how global audiences are embracing African-rooted sounds, regardless of borders or cultural gatekeeping.
Tyla is the only artist to have multiple songs inside the Top 5 of the Billboard US Afrobeats chart every week of this year so far.
‘DYNAMITE’, ‘Water’ & ‘PUSH 2 START’ are all charting in this week’s Top 5. pic.twitter.com/x2juushBeF
— Pop Base (@PopBase) August 13, 2025
